The state chronicle. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1883-1893, 1887-07-28
A SUNDAY IN THE COUNTRY.
THE EDITOR AT CHURCH WITH
ssTHEPEOPLE WHOM GOD NJ ADE.''
The Presiding Elder breaches Sermon
an Hour LODg-T People in the MOun-
tains Can Stand ssStrOng'' Doctrine.

The Presiding Elder breaches Sermon
an ii our LoDg-The People in the MOun-
tains Can Stand ''StrOng'' Doctrine.
Editorial Correspondence
HENDERsoNvILLE, N. c., July 25, 1851
A Sunday in the country Where is the
man who does not love to leave behind him
| the stir and hustle of town; the show and
pomp of city worship; the dress and fash
ion that threaten to crowd religion out OF
Gods house in the places where business
draws crowded populations; and go out
into the country on a Sabbath morning!
Here is Gods temple. Here is the Temple
of Nature. Here is an absence OF form
and rites. Here is heart worship, often
not appreciated by those who are accus-
toned to stately hiding of the emo
tions of the heart by those whose genutlec-
tions have little except the outward show
of humility Here is Perfect Faith and
Trust in God Here is forgetfuness-
perfect disregard of what they may say
and an entering into the worship of Him
who lifted up the mountains and dug out
the sea- Here is the preaching of the Word
in directness and earnestness. II the
preacher ..hollers loud" it is not grating to
| sensitive cars accustomed to the low chant
ing in the mullioned chancel. 1t is put
down to his intense belief in the efficacy
of the Word 1.-THE power of God unto sal
vation." Here IS the utterance OF the
heart-the prayer Of the faithful disciple
pleading for blessing, There is no shrink
ing if the supplicant, growing earnest III
: ~. 4 ~ for,
OF, and cries loudly unto Him. The
nightly crying unto God, the shout Of
victory, the strong lunged voice hymning
His praise-these fall upon the ear of the
worshipper il the country with sacred
ness and solemnity that impress the
heart as no low chanting or soft melodies
could do.
Sometimes my heart cries out for a Sun
day away from organs and choirs and fine
dressing and scholarly sermons 1t is the
voice Of nature calling to worship IN the
temples not made with hands.
Talk not of tenplez-there is one
Built without hands, to mankind given;
Its lamps are the meridian sun,
And all the stars Of heaven:
Its walls are he cerulean sky.
ill., tioor the earth Green and fair.
The dome is vast immensely
II nature worships there
The cedar and the mountain pine,
The willow on the fountain brlm,
The tulip and the egl ldntlne,
In reverence bend to Him:
The song birds pour their sweetest lays,
From tower and tree and middle air:
The rushing river murmurs praise
All nature Worshlps there.
Always fond of going to church in the
groves IN which the country church is sit
uated in our Eastern country, and spend
ing the hour Of service with 1.-THE people
whom God made" the prospect Of a sun
day at a country church in these noun
tains filled me with an eager longing that
4 child experiences when he is promised a
new toy. On Saturday the news came that
on sunday there would be big quarterly
meeting at shaW's Greek church, five miles
distant from Hendersonvile. We must
60 was my determination as soon as the
opportunity Of gratifying one of the de
lights of my heart was offered. We decid-
| ed to go-and retired early Saturday night
to dream of sweet fields, the matin hymns
Of song birds, the cheerful sounds one
hears riding through the country the high
and picturesque mountains and the little
houses that look like bird cages sitting in
dinner, and the long and loud sermon by
the earnest preacher.
Sunday morning dawned, but threaten
ing clouds lowered and rain seemed ready
to pour down in torrents. To go or not
to 90 became the question. We unani-
mously agreed not to allow the rain to
break up the longedfor enjoyment. The
Watertown was ordered, the women-folks
Of the party prepared their waterproofs
and wraps, and we started-a Joyous, dc,
; corous, Sunday party. The fresh air of
the morn was stirring and we barred our
brows to its refreshing breath. The vol
ces of nature for nature has a whisper
5 all her own if you will keep perfectly quiet
and listen for it)-made a murmurlng mu,-
sic that was blended with the faraway
barking of the dogs, the song of the birds,
t the growing of the cocks, and the laughter
; of the boys at play in the field hard by.
: The sun, now and then, broke through the
I clouds and gilded the mountain tops with
1 a glorious food of light, making them the
more beautiful because the mountain sides
/ were hidden behind the thick clouds. The
f smoke ascending from the little cabins
A perched upon the mountain sides made a
y picture III keeping with the scene. The
: sharp turns in the road, the jostlng of the
S party, the holding on to the seats by the
, ladies the play of words and reboundine
: thought we had made half the distance
r Surrounded by trees, in large, thick
9 grove, is the church. 1t is a neat, plas
r tered structure, without beauty or grace ol
g architecture. 1t is severely plain. Nc
4 steeple points the way heavenward. NJ
a cross shines in the sunlight. A plain four
d cornered building, without ornamentation
is the house dedicated to the worship O.
, God Our driver calls a halt. Sunday
p school is yet in session and from th'
: church comes the singing of the gospe
y hymns chldren's voices are clearly
! distinguished. How sweet are the songs
o how pure the hearts of the singers. Their
It is no operatic air, there is no new tune
They sing the old songs,
8 ''Songs that have power to quiet the restles
! pulse Of care
: We remain in the carriage until churcl
s time. The Presiding Elder is present.
), is great occasion-and the little churcl
> is full Silence falls upon all, which i
interrupted only now and then by the cry
v ing of baby, or the neighing of hors
: tied to a limb near the church. The pray
er and song service is over, in which th
people join with spirit that is most refresh
. ing. They sing with their lungs-an'